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It was just over three years since his last senior league appearance for Cork, brought on as a substitute against Offaly with five minutes left in Páirc Uí Rinn on 9 March 2014.

Yesterday he was introduced for the injured Alan Cadogan before the interval, scored a point and did enough in helping to influence the eventual eight-point win over Waterford, to suggest that Cork have an attacker of genuine potential on their hands.

But back playing – not alone on the senior stage but at any level of hurling – is the real achievement for the Bandon player.

In the winter before the 2014 season commenced, Cahalane was drafted into the Cork squad for the first time. Jimmy Barry-Murphy recruited the then Leaving Cert student as he sought to enhance a setup that had come desperately close to lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup the September before.

Cahalane made his debut off the bench against Limerick in that year’s National League and then hurled against Offaly. But then a serious problem emerged.

A breathing issue that was bothering him was investigated with further tests but after asthma had been ruled out, an ultrasound revealed that he had an enlarged heart and had picked up a viral infection.

Medical advice instructed him to bring a promising hurling career to a halt.

Yet with the backing of his parents, he kept looking for a way to mount a comeback.

“To be told that you can’t play anymore is tough to take,” stated Cahalane, when speaking to Denis Hurley in the Irish Examiner last December.

“Dad and Mam, first day they said that it’s like a car, if something is wrong, then you go to someone who’ll fix it.

“Most people that we went to after taking the medication were positive enough, the results were improving and I never really gave up hope.”

@BloodandBandage - yes great to see m Cahalane and we were much more direct today - delivering ball long and quick

Last June came the news Cahalane had been hoping for. He was given the green light to return. It was a timely boost for a Bandon team in the midst of Cork club championship action.

In late July, Cahalane came off the bench and hit 1-5 in a local league game. He grew in stature as the season progressed, coped with the demands of the games and it was no coincidence that by October, Bandon had lifted a premier intermediate title with Cahalane scoring 0-3 in the final as they graduated to the senior ranks.

Cork boss Kieran Kingston was alerted by Cahalane’s club form and brought him back into the inter-county arena.

In January, he shot 0-4 from play in Cork’s opening pre-season game against Kerry in Mallow. The Cork management have been patient in ushering him back into action, before the comeback was rounded off yesterday.

Kingston and McGrath were both selectors for 2014 when Cahalane was first unveiled as a Cork senior hurler. He did not emerge from trophy-laden underage teams but his talent and potential was crystal-clear.

His versatility was showcased at minor level. He was centre-back in 2012 against Limerick, midfield in 2013 against Clare and then fired 1-1 that same year against a Waterford team that would go on to win the All-Ireland minor title, and provide senior figures like Austin Gleeson, the Bennett brothers and Patrick Curran.

Cahalane’s football pedigree was also sound – he struck 1-5 twice against Kerry in the Munster minor championship in 2013 – but hurling won the race for his services at senior level the following season.

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